India captain Rohit Sharma pulled off a sensational one-handed catch during the second Test against Bangladesh at the Green Park Stadium in Kanpur, sending the Monday crowd into a frenzy. After two days of rain, Rohit's athleticism brought much-needed excitement to the game, leaving both teammates and spectators in awe.

Litton Das dismissed in style

Standing at mid-off, Rohit Sharma showcased his impeccable timing as he leapt to intercept Litton Das's powerful drive off Mohammed Siraj’s bowling. The ball seemed destined for the boundary, but Rohit’s quick reflexes and a perfectly timed jump saw the ball stick into his right hand. Litton Das, who had scored 13 runs, couldn’t believe his bad luck as his beautifully timed shot met its premature end in Rohit’s palm.

WHAT. A. CATCH 👏👏

Captain @ImRo45 with a screamer of a catch as Litton Das is dismissed for 13.@mdsirajofficial picks up his first.

Live - https://t.co/JBVX2gyyPf… #INDvBAN@IDFCFIRSTBank pic.twitter.com/60saRWTDtG

— BCCI (@BCCI) September 30, 2024

Bangladesh stumbles as Rohit celebrates

Rohit’s catch marked the fall of Bangladesh’s fifth wicket at 148, adding to their batting woes. Earlier, Jasprit Bumrah had dismissed Mushfiqur Rahim for 11 on the fourth morning, further solidifying India's advantage. Meanwhile, Mominul Haque managed to complete his half-century, providing some resistance for Bangladesh.

See Also: Duleep Trophy set to experience another format change

After Rohit’s incredible catch, the entire Indian team burst into smiles, with Rohit sprinting across the field, raising his hand and celebrating the moment in style. Having already secured a commanding 280-run victory in the first Test in Chennai, India leads the two-match series 1-0. Rohit’s moment of brilliance has brought them closer to sealing the series as they continue to dominate the match.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) president, Faruque Ahmed, has stated that the board cannot guarantee Shakib Al Hasan the personal security he requested in order to play his final Test match at home. Shakib, who announced earlier today that the Dhaka Test against South Africa in October will be his last, raised concerns about his safety upon returning to Bangladesh.

Shakib’s final Test in doubt amid security concerns

Shakib Al Hasan, one of Bangladesh’s cricketing icons, expressed his desire to play his last Test match on home soil, provided that Cricket South Africa (CSA) proceeds with the tour of Bangladesh. However, uncertainty surrounds the tour due to political unrest in Bangladesh during July and August, which led to the deaths of hundreds of people in anti-government protests.

Shakib, who was a member of parliament in the Awami League-led government—the target of these protests—has not returned to Bangladesh since the fall of the government on August 5. The cricketer was named as one of 147 individuals in a murder case linked to the protests. With these legal and security challenges in mind, Shakib requested the BCB to provide assurances of his safety if he returns for the Test.

Speaking on the matter, BCB president Faruque Ahmed clarified that the board cannot ensure Shakib’s personal security, stating, "Shakib's security is not in the board's hand. The board can't provide an individual with personal security. He has to take a decision on that. His security has to come from the highest level of the government."

BCB’s limited role in security and Shakib’s future

Faruque also emphasized that the BCB is not a security agency, such as the police or Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), and therefore lacks the authority to handle matters related to Shakib’s legal case. "Since his case is a sub-judice matter, we can't really do much about it," he added.

Despite these concerns, Faruque acknowledged the emotional weight of Shakib’s decision but refrained from attempting to change his mind. “Shakib is going through a difficult phase of his life. I didn't try to talk him out of the retirement. He thought that this was the right time for him to retire. I respect his decision," he said.

Shakib’s legal standing in Bangladesh remains uncertain, but Bangladesh’s law adviser, Asif Nazrul, previously commented that he hopes Shakib would not face arrest if he returns to play. This sentiment was echoed by the BCB's cricket operations chief, Shahriar Nafees, who expressed confidence in Shakib’s safety based on these assurances from government officials.

See Also: Nehra, Solanki possible fates reveal for Gujarat Titans

During a press conference in Kanpur, Shakib reiterated his concerns about safety. "I am a citizen of Bangladesh, so I shouldn't have any problem going back to Bangladesh," he said. "But my concern is my safety and security in Bangladesh. My close friends and family members are concerned. I hope things are getting better. There should be a solution to it."

As Shakib’s potential final Test looms, the cricketing world awaits to see whether he will be able to fulfill his wish of bidding farewell on Bangladeshi soil. For now, his future remains uncertain, contingent on both the CSA tour and assurances from the highest levels of government regarding his safety.

India extended their dominance in Test cricket at home with a resounding 280-run victory over Bangladesh in the first Test at MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai, on Sunday, September 22. After putting up 376 runs in the first innings, India bowled out Bangladesh for a paltry 149, securing a commanding 227-run lead. In the second innings, India added 287 more, setting an imposing 515-run target. Despite skipper Najmul Hasan Shanto’s fighting 82, Bangladesh crumbled to 234 all out, handing India a convincing win to open their Test season.

Though Bangladesh showed early promise in the match, dominating the first two sessions, Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja led India’s resurgence. Ashwin’s crucial century and six wickets, combined with Jadeja’s all-round contributions, turned the tide in India’s favor. Jasprit Bumrah’s lethal bowling further dismantled Bangladesh, giving India control after the first innings. In the second innings, centuries from Rishabh Pant and Shubman Gill ensured India’s dominance before the bowlers sealed the match.

Let’s take a closer look at the standout performances from India’s heroes in this commanding win:

Ravichandran Ashwin (113 runs, 6 wickets)

Ashwin was instrumental in India’s victory, delivering an all-round masterclass. Coming to bat when India was struggling at 144 for 6, Ashwin’s partnership with Jadeja (199 runs) turned the innings around. Ashwin’s splendid knock of 113, his 6th Test century, set up a solid platform. His brilliance continued with the ball as he took 6 crucial wickets in the second innings, ensuring Bangladesh’s collapse and earning him the Player of the Match award.

Ravindra Jadeja (86 runs, 5 wickets)

Jadeja proved once again why he is one of the most reliable all-rounders in Test cricket. His 86 runs in the first innings, coupled with five wickets across both innings (2 in the first, 3 in the second), anchored India’s dominance. Jadeja is now just one wicket away from reaching the milestone of 300 Test wickets.

Rishabh Pant (148 runs)

Returning to Test cricket after nearly two years, Pant made a memorable comeback. His quickfire 39 in the first innings was overshadowed by a superb 109 in the second, as he took on the Bangladeshi bowlers with his trademark aggressive style. Pant’s form is a huge boost for India as they gear up for the Australia Test series later this year.

See Also: "This 100 was special because I love playing in Chennai" - Rishabh Pant

Shubman Gill (119 runs)

Despite an early setback with an eight-ball duck in the first innings, Gill roared back in the second innings, scoring an unbeaten 119. This was his 5th Test century, reinforcing his status as one of the brightest young talents in Indian cricket.

Jasprit Bumrah (5 wickets)

Bumrah’s incisive bowling played a key role in dismantling Bangladesh’s batting lineup. His four wickets in the first innings set the tone for India’s dominance, and his crucial breakthrough in the second innings, dismissing Zakir Hasan, triggered Bangladesh’s collapse in their 515-run chase.

India now heads into the next Test with a 1-0 lead in the series, with momentum firmly on their side.

On Day 3 of the first Test match against Bangladesh, Indian cricket stars Shubman Gill and Rishabh Pant are forging a formidable partnership, with Pant celebrating a remarkable milestone. After a lengthy absence of 625 days from Test cricket, Pant has crossed the 50-run mark, showcasing his skill and resilience as he makes a significant comeback.

An impressive return

Rishabh Pant’s journey back to Test cricket has been nothing short of inspiring. Having spent nearly 700 days away from the format, his performance is exceeding expectations. Currently, he is part of an 83-run partnership with Shubman Gill, reflecting their strong collaboration at the crease. Notably, this marks Pant’s 12th Test fifty, adding to his impressive tally of seven scores above 50 in the last 11 innings. Amid the excitement, a video of Pant displaying a unique gully cricket style while padding the ball has gone viral, further endearing him to fans. As the match progresses, both players are poised to build on this strong foundation for India.

Rishabh Pant played a remarkable innings, scoring 82 runs off 108 balls, showcasing his resilience and skill at the crease. His performance was crucial in stabilizing the Indian innings and boosting the team's confidence against Bangladesh.

See Also: Watch: Faheem Ashraf reveals flaws of domestic cricket umpiring

Test Cricket is Cricketing when Rishabh Pant is playing!! Who would say he is Coming back to Test Cricket after 20 long months..❤️🥺 #RishabhPant #INDvBAN
pic.twitter.com/IhPkvMWrpR

— Jenil Modi (@Jenil1903) September 21, 2024

Another 50 in Test cricket for Rishabh Pant! What a brilliant cricketer he is for Team India 🇮🇳🔥🔥

India lead Bangladesh by 378 runs in Chennai now 🤯#INDvBAN #tapmad #DontStopStreaming pic.twitter.com/q0ncKKvhrt

— Farid Khan (@_FaridKhan) September 21, 2024

Test Cricket is Cricketing when Rishabh Pant is playing!! Who would say he is Coming back to Test Cricket after 20 long months..❤️🥺 #RishabhPant #INDvBAN
pic.twitter.com/IhPkvMWrpR

— Jenil Modi (@Jenil1903) September 21, 2024

Watching Rishabh Pant play Test cricket is pure entertainment. pic.twitter.com/bVAMDOcfe8

— Out Of Context Cricket (@GemsOfCricket) September 21, 2024

Half Century for Rishabh Pant 💥

This is Pant's 7th 50+ Score in Last 11 Test Innings 😮#INDvBAN pic.twitter.com/GNE3pLkDJ2

— 𝑺𝒉𝒆𝒃𝒂𝒔 (@Shebas_10dulkar) September 21, 2024

Rishabh Pant setting the field for Bangladesh 🤣🤣🤣🤣#RishabhPant#CricketTwitter pic.twitter.com/8vpHkcqAG8

— Riseup Pant (@riseup_pant17) September 21, 2024

As the 2024 T20 World Cup looms, the excitement is palpable. In less than 12 hours, cricket fans will witness the North American neighbours, the USA and Canada, clash in the opening encounter at Dallas.

Meanwhile, India takes its first look at the Nassau County International Stadium in New York, facing Bangladesh in their only warm-up game before the main event.

This match is crucial for India as it prepares for conditions similar to those they will encounter in their league games against Ireland, Pakistan, and the USA.

Match Overview

Team India won the match 60 runs.

India’s captain, Rohit Sharma, won the toss and opted to bat, aiming to put runs on the board in challenging conditions. Notably, star batter Virat Kohli was absent, having arrived in New York only the day before.

See Also: Did you know about the 180 years old cricket rivalry between USA and Canada?

India’s Batting Performance

India posted a competitive score of 182 on a slightly sticky batting surface. Early in the innings, Sanju Samson fell for just one run, while Rohit Sharma made a promising start but was dismissed after scoring 23.

The highlight of India’s innings was Rishabh Pant’s aggressive fifty. Returning to international cricket, Pant looked in sublime form, smashing 53 off just 32 balls before retiring.

Contributions from Suryakumar Yadav and Hardik Pandya bolstered India’s total, with Hardik scoring a brisk 40 off 23 balls and Suryakumar adding 31 off 18.

Bangladesh’s Bowling Analysis

Bangladesh experimented with various bowlers, finding some success. Mahedi was particularly impressive, taking a wicket and conceding only 22 runs in his four overs.

Shoriful’s performance was also noteworthy, though his injury poses a concern for Bangladesh. Surprisingly, Shakib Al Hasan had an off day, which proved expensive and failed to contain the Indian batters.

Bangladesh Batting Performance

In a crucial warm-up game ahead of the T20 World Cup, India secured a comprehensive victory over Bangladesh. The match offered both teams a chance to assess their strengths and areas needing improvement before the tournament begins. While India capitalized on the opportunity to fine-tune their strategies, Bangladesh faced challenges that could impact their World Cup performance.

India’s Performance: A Strong Showing

Time Spent in the Middle

India will be delighted with the time spent in the middle, with several key players getting valuable match practice. The batting lineup performed well, building a solid foundation for the team.

Key Contributions

• Rishabh Pant’s Return: Pant made a successful return to international cricket, scoring 53 off 32 balls before retiring out. His aggressive batting against spinners provided India with a strong start.
• Suryakumar Yadav and Hardik Pandya: Both players showcased their form, with Suryakumar scoring 31 off 18 balls and Hardik contributing 40 off 23 balls.

Bangladesh’s Batting Struggles:

Bangladesh never seemed intent on chasing the target, particularly after losing early wickets. The top order’s vulnerability to the new ball remains a significant concern.

• Mahmudullah’s Effort: Mahmudullah was the standout performer, scoring 40 runs and showing resilience in an otherwise lackluster batting display.
• Shakib Al Hasan’s Form: Shakib’s struggles with both bat and ball could be a worry for Bangladesh heading into the World Cup. His performance will be crucial for the team’s success.

Bangladesh’s top order was rattled by India’s seamers, with the team reeling at 41/5 at one stage. Only Mahmudullah and Shakib managed to put up a fight, scoring 40 and 28 runs, respectively.

India’s Bowling Brilliance

India’s bowlers were exceptional, starting strong and maintaining pressure on Bangladesh throughout the match.

• Arshdeep Singh: Arshdeep’s new-ball scalps set the tone, taking two early wickets with inswingers.
• Mohammed Siraj and Axar Patel: Siraj and Axar continued the momentum, each contributing crucial wickets.
• Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube: Both bowlers chipped in with wickets, ensuring a comprehensive victory for India.

Teams:

Bangladesh (Batting 11, Fielding 11): Litton Das, Soumya Sarkar, Najmul Hossain Shanto(c), Towhid Hridoy, Shakib Al Hasan, Mahmudullah, Jaker Ali(w), Mahedi Hasan, Rishad Hossain, Shoriful Islam, Tanzid Hasan, Tanzim Hasan Sakib, Tanvir Islam

India (Batting 11, Fielding 11): Rohit Sharma(c), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Suryakumar Yadav, Sanju Samson, Hardik Pandya, Rishabh Pant(w), Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh, Yuzvendra Chahal

India and Bangladesh gear up for an exciting five-match T20I series in Sylhet, marking the beginning of their preparations for the upcoming T20 World Cup in Bangladesh. Both teams will aim to fine-tune their combinations and gain momentum ahead of the marquee event.

Past Controversies and T20 World Cup Preparations

Controversies, with heated exchanges between players and umpires, marred the last encounter between these two sides in Bangladesh. However, as they prepare for the T20 World Cup, the focus shifts to on-field performances and strategic preparations for the upcoming series.

See Also: IPL 2024: Absolute madness from Jake Fraser-McGurk; Fans thrilled

Bangladesh recently faced a crushing 3-0 defeat at home against Australia, highlighting their batting struggles and the need for significant improvement in key areas.

India’s Loss to Australia and Players’ Form in the WPL

India’s last T20I series ended in a 2-1 defeat against Australia, where senior players like Harmanpreet Kaur and Smriti Mandhana had underwhelming performances. However, several Indian players showcased good form in the 2024 Women’s IPL (WPL), providing hope for a strong showing in the upcoming series.

Bangladesh’s batting lineup must be more consistent, as reflected in their recent scores against Australia. Captain Nigar Sultana has been a standout performer, but the team needs more contributions from other top-order batters.

Need for Improvement in Top Order

India’s top three had a disappointing series during their last tour to Bangladesh, highlighting the importance of improved performances this time around.

Shafali Verma and Smriti Mandhana showed promising form in the WPL, boosting India’s batting lineup. However, the absence of Jemimah Rodrigues due to injury poses a challenge for India.

With notable performances in the WPL, India’s top order is better prepared for the challenges they will face in Sylhet. Leg-spinner S Asha and spin-bowling all-rounder S Sajana have earned maiden international call-ups after impressive performances in the WPL. Left-arm spinner Radha Yadav’s return to the squad adds depth to India’s spin bowling options.

Balancing the Squad and XI Selection Challenges:

With the emergence of new talents, India faces selection dilemmas, particularly in accommodating the likes of Asha, Yadav, and Sajana in the playing XI. Sylhet’s pitch and weather conditions are expected to favor seamers initially, but spinners will play a crucial role as the match progresses. Both teams must adapt their strategies accordingly, considering the pitch conditions and weather forecast for the matches in Sylhet.

In the third and final match of the ODI series against Bangladesh, which took place on Saturday in Chattogram, young India batter Ishan Kishan set a record with his insane power-hitting performance. He became the fastest batter in world cricket history to score 200 runs in an ODI innings, making him the seventh international and fourth Indian to accomplish the feat. India finished with a staggering 409 for eight thanks to Ishan’s 131-ball knock. Ishan made the bold statement that he could have also gone for 300 after the knock.

Ishan seized the opportunity to open the batting for India in place of the injured captain Rohit Sharma.

He put together a record-breaking 290-run partnership for the second wicket after Shikhar Dhawan left early. On the way, Kohli notched his 44th and first ODI century in 1214 days. However, Ishan’s sensational knock outweighed his efforts.

After scoring his century in 85 balls, he went into blitzkrieg mode, scoring 156 runs with boundaries. Ishan was eventually run out in the 36th over, but he believed he could have scored 300 runs if he had batted all the way through.

“The wicket was too good to bat on. My intent was very clear – if the ball is there, I’ll go for it. I’m blessed to hear my name amid such legends. Still feel when I got out – 15 overs were left. Could’ve scored 300 also,”

he said at the end of India’s innings.

ALSO READ: India beat Bangladesh by 227 runs in the 3rd ODI, lose series 1-2

Ishan also credited Kohli and Suryakumar Yadav for his knock. “Batting with Virat bhai, he has such good sense of the game. He was calming me down when I was in my 90s. I wanted to bring it up with a six, but he said to get it in singles as it’s your first. Had a chat with Surya bhai – he said when you bat before the game, you see the ball well. I didn’t take too much pressure on myself. Just wanted to make use of the opportunity,”

he added.

At the Sher-e-Bangla in Dhaka, India suffered a five-run defeat against Bangladesh in the second one-day international. Bangladesh took a 2-0 lead in the three-match ODI series as a result of the defeat. Mehidy Hasan was in great form in the second ODI, scoring an unbeaten century and taking two wickets. India reached 266 for nine in 50 overs, chasing a total of 272 runs, led by captain Rohit Sharma’s unbeaten half-century while batting with his left thumb heavily taped. Shreyas Iyer scored 82 runs off 102 deliveries, while Axar Patel scored 56 runs off 56 deliveries. For the hosts, Ebadot Hossain took three wickets while bowling well.

Many of the visitors’ batters played poorly, and Virat Kohli, the former captain, only scored five runs off six balls in his opening over. Shikhar Dhawan, age 8, Washington Sundar, age 11, and KL Rahul, age 14, likewise failed to impress. Mehidy hit an unbeaten century off 83 balls and Mahmudullah smashed 77 runs off 96 balls to help Bangladesh reach 271 for seven in 50 overs. In the meantime, India’s Sundar took three wickets.

Former players Virender Sehwag and Venkatesh Prasad criticized India’s ODI strategy after the game and urged the BCCI to make some adjustments.

Taking to Twitter,

“India is innovating in so many fields across the world. But when it comes to playing limited overs cricket, our approach is a decade old. England after the 2015 WC first round exit took tough calls and turned around to become such an exciting team, India needed to take tough calls. And change approach drastically. We haven’t won a T20 WC since the IPL started & the last 5 years have been poor in ODIs apart from winning inconsequential bilateral matches. Haven’t learned from our mistakes for too long and far from being an exciting team in limited overs cricket. CHANGE”, 

Prasad wrote.

ALSO READ: BAN vs IND: Rohit Sharma ruled out of 3rd ODI, doubtful for Test series

Meanwhile, Sehwag mocked the Indian tema and stated, “Cryptos se bhi tez gir rahi hai apni performance yaar. Need to shake up – wake up.”

With pride at stake, India will be aiming to grab a consolation win in the third ODI, scheduled for Saturday in Dhaka.

BAN vs IND 2nd ODI: Bangladesh 271 for 7 (Mehidy 100*, Mahmudullah 77, Washington 3-37) beat India 266 for 9 (Iyer 82, Axar 56, Rohit 51*, Ebadot 3-45, Shakib 2-39, Mehidy 2-46) by five runs

Mehidy Hasan Miraz was Bangladesh’s hero for the second game in a row when he made another remarkable effort with the bat. He scored his maiden ODI century in just 83 balls to pull his team out of trouble and post a challenging 271 for 7 that proved to be just beyond India’s reach in the end. This was Bangladesh’s second consecutive win. When injured Rohit Sharma walked out, India lost early wickets and were 207 for 8 when he made 65 off 44 balls to win the match. Even though he was running out of partners, he hit five sixes and brought the score to 20 off the final over and a six off the final ball, but Bangladesh won the series thanks to an accurate yorker from Mustafizur Rahman.

After beating India 2-1 in 2015, Bangladesh won the series 2-0 to secure their second victory

Bangladesh were initially saved by Mehidy and Mahmudullah with a record seventh-wicket stand of 148 to pull them out of the pits at 69 for 6 before their quicks struck early to halt India’s pursuit. Virat Kohli started the game in Rohit’s absence, but he and Shikhar Dhawan both fell in the first three overs of the chase. Later, Bangladesh spinners struck to further harm India. With a century stand, Shreyas Iyer and Axar Patel attempted to save India from 65 for 4, but Bangladesh could only recover by breaking that stand. India’s lower order, with an injured Deepak Chahar, only delayed the inevitable as the asking rate crept up until Rohit gave the hosts a scare after they did, with Iyer’s wicket in the 35th over when India needed another 100 runs.

When Mehidy and Mahmudullah got together in the 19th over, it looked like another low-scoring match was going to happen. Mohammed Siraj’s early movement caused Anamul Haque to be trapped lbw and Litton Das’ middle stump to be knocked over by Mohammed Siraj. Rohit injured his thumb when he dropped the batter at second slip and immediately walked back, only to bat in the 43rd over of the chase after Haque was dismissed.

One of Umran Malik’s thunderbolts above 150 kilometers per hour brought an end to Najmul Hossain Shanto’s shaky run of 21 when the batsman was beaten by pace to lose his off stump. After that, Siraj and Malik pounded Shakib with short balls and bouncers, twice hitting his helmet. Shakib attempted to attack Washington as soon as Malik was removed, but the attempt was top-edged and Dhawan took it at short fine leg after a juggle. 66 for 4 before long became 69 for 6 when Washington Sundar eliminated Mushfiqur Rahim and Afif Hossain, having them gotten off the glove and bowled individually.

Mehidy and Mahmudullah, on the other hand, got Bangladesh out of trouble and set up a late push. Mehidy played the attacking role by smoking Washington for a six down the ground and then slog-sweeping Axar for his second six as Mahmudullah dropped anchor. As a result, they found the boundaries frequently in the middle overs. Soon after, Mehidy appeared to be having cramps, but he continued to hit ones and twos and scored his half-century off 55 balls. 74 balls got Mahmudullah to his; Between them, Bangladesh reached 169 for 6 with 10 overs remaining, completing the century stand.

Because Deepak Chahar had a strained hamstring, India had run out of bowlers by this point. Mahmudullah capitalized on that by going after Siraj in the 46th over, hitting the leg-side boundary for 14 runs. Even though Siraj fell in the next over, Mehidy’s best was still to come.

Nasum Ahmed also hit back-to-back fours off Malik and smashed Siraj for a six in the next over to push them closer to 250. After that, it was the Mehidy show. He went after Malik with two drives that raced to the boundary before reverse-scooping the final ball to the deep-third boundary to make it a 14-run over with two overs remaining. He was on 72 off 74. Mehidy hit two big sixes on Thakur’s leg side off slower balls in the final over, reached 99 with a double, and hit the hundred with a full toss to midfield. Mehidy assisted Bangladesh in scoring 68 runs off the final five overs and 102 runs off the final ten overs thanks to Nasum’s useful 11-ball 18.

India’s chase lost most of its momentum when Kohli hit Ebadot Hossain for 5 and Mustafizur Rahman ripped a short ball off Dhawan, who was caught at point for 8. Washington debuted as the No. 4 in front of Rahul, yet he fell on the last bundle of the powerplay when he chipped Shakib to midwicket for a simple catch. Also, Rahul’s stay without boundaries was brief; India were 65 for 4 when he attempted a lap sweep against a straight ball from Mehidy but was caught in front.

India’s hopes were still alive because the asking rate was still below seven an over. In his usual fashion, Iyer attacked the spinners. While Iyer scored a patient fifty off 69 balls, Axar was the quicker of the two because he consistently found gaps and went after Nasum and Shakib early on for sixes on the leg side. Their stand was eventually broken when, in the 35th over, Iyer tried to hit a second six but missed deep midwicket for 82.

Axar continued to attack and scored a run-a-ball fifty, but Ebadot returned and caught him at cover with the score still at 83 off 70 balls to eliminate him immediately. However, India had few other options. Before Shardul Thakur was stumped and Chahar, who was injured, fell for 11 off 18 balls, Thakur struggled to hit his 23-ball 7.

ALSO READ: BAN vs IND: Malik’s 151 km/h rocket destroys BAN batter’s off stump

Rohit started his boundary barrage with two sixes and a four off Ebaot to bring it down to 41 off 24. He mostly had the weaker side of the tail for company. Mahmudullah and Mustafizur strengthened Bangladesh’s position once more by keeping Siraj mostly on strike and allowing only one run in two overs. Rohit smoked Mahmudullah for two sixes, got two lives in four balls, and lost Siraj with 40 to go off 12 before reducing it to 20 needed off six but failing to finish it on the final ball.